Elijah Peixoto is eager to do East Providence proud, and add to his young but successful pro boxing career while he’s at it.

Peixoto, a 30-year-old, 137-pound welterweight who measures in at 5’ 10”, will face off against fellow unbeaten New Englander, Anuel Rosa (of New Haven. Conn.), during the annual “Winter Brawl” event at Foxwoods Casino on Saturday, Feb. 22. The event is organized via the CES Boxing professional league, which includes the top fighting talent from the New England region.

According to Mariano Agmni, CES Boxing Media Relations Director, “Peixoto was an amateur standout, compiling a record of 119-27 that included 4 Southern New England Golden Gloves championships, multiple New England Regional titles, 4 Regional Junior Olympic championships and a trip the 2018 Olympic Trials Qualifiers. Last year, Elijah competed as part of the Team Combat League's Boston Butchers.”

The Post asked Peixoto a few questions about his East Providence past and how he was preparing for the bout this weekend.

The Post: Where in East Providence did you grow up? What are some of your fondest EP memories that fellow Townies might relate to?

Elijah Peixoto (EP): We moved to East Providence when I was 6 or 7 years old. We settled in the Kent Heights area near Martin Middle School. Some of my fondest memories growing up were meeting all of my friends at the local parks and ball courts, from Pierce Field to Hull Street and Central. We did it all, from getting pizza from our favorite pizza shops to our favorite lemonade at the local deli shop or from our local ice cream man, John.

I went from Silver Spring to Martin Middle and graduated from EPHS in 2013, so I’m a Townie through and through. I love my city. 

The Post: Did you always intend to go into boxing? How did that evolve over the years?

EP: Martial Arts have always been in my family. From my Grandfather, Charlie Babbit, who was a Grand Master of Martial Arts, to my dad, who is also a Master of Martial Arts. Combat sports have always come naturally to me. However, I gravitated more towards boxing. I excelled in the amateurs, fighting in just about every tournament you can think of, ending up with over 150 amateur fights. It was only right I take that experience with me into the professional arena. I’m extremely grateful for all the lessons learned through the years.

The Post: You're undefeated at the pro level, facing off against another undefeated opponent, what goes into your preparation (mentally and physically) to face off against a challenge like that?

EP: I’m 4-0 and looking to become 5-0 on Saturday. Training and preparation is everything. Boxing is 80% mental and 20% physical. You have to be very disciplined and strong-minded to do this day in and day out. We had a very strict, 8-week fight camp at Big Six Boxing Academy. Coming up on a challenge like this, you have to be confident and strong minded. But that comes from knowing that you put the work in. That gives you the level of inner confidence you need to succeed.

The Post: What is your training routine like?

EP: From hitting the pads and heavybags to sparring and getting my road work in, running miles and sprints. We want to make sure we’re in tip top shape for this opportunity.

The Post: If someone was trying to be healthier, what's the one thing they should do and one thing they should avoid?

EP: It’s very simple to live a healthier life, and that’s doing what you can — a little every day. I recommend starting with better eating habits and doing a little exercise daily. Stay away from all the junk and fast food as they’re not healthy options. At the end of the day, health is wealth.

To learn more about CES Boxing and to buy tickets for Winter Brawl, you can go to https://cesfights.com/.